December 27th. And No SNOW!

This is the third time I've started this post having deleted the previous two.   I suppose it's been a strange year in some respects.  It's been the first Xmas I've been alone in a very long time.   Unfortunately family couldn't make it either.  This all gave me a lot of time for reflection both on the past and the future.  Maybe that's what I needed so fate stepped in and provided the opportunity.

I was busy with friends coming back and forth this past three days, it was great to see people come and go.  Had some friends in for Xmas dinner and I enjoyed that as well.  My daughter may be able to get out this way next week so fingers crossed.

No snow yet!  I'm thoroughly enjoying it.   I read recently that this time last year we had three feet of snow on the ground.   It's been quite mild some days and I noticed yesterday that my lilac tree has budded.   The plants must be so confused.   I took advantage of the +5 early morning yesterday and went up on the roof to clean the chimney.  Tommy of course came up the ladder with me.   He just has to be with me when I'm outside.   I'll have to go up in the woods sometime today to find some bits of wood to start the morning fire.  I noticed I had run out this morning.  

The spoiled baby.

Lots of birds around.

One of my most favorite gifts.  From my granddaughter, a miniature garden cart with accessories for a fairy garden.   My mind is going round and round now with plans.

Hope you're all enjoying the season and the holidays. 

Glitz and Colour of the Season.

Minus 13 overnight last night and this morning.  I got up during the night to check that the water pipes hadn't frozen and put some more wood in the stove.   There was still fire in when I got up for the day so wasn't too bad.   It's turned out to be a nice sunny day but cold. 

I decided to decorate for the holidays this past weekend.   A bit early for me but I had bought a new 7.5 ft. pre-lit tree so was a bit excited to see what it was going to look like.  Young Tommy gave me grief in the beginning but has been surprisingly good since.  Fingers crossed that it remains that way.   My mom gave me some houses from her winter house collection so with the few bits I had myself, I made a little village.   First time and I'm really pleased.   So, without further ado, here's some photos.

Cold Days Now.

Just came in from over in the woods.   Thought I'd try to scrounge up some fallen branches on the ground to use as kindling.  It's was just lovely there.   A sunny but crisp day.   I managed to bring back three armloads.  Enough to start the fire for a few days.  It's getting down to below zero some nights now so there can be a bit of a chill when first getting up in the morning. 

I got a phone call last night that there was a coyote seen not far from my house.   Thankfully all the cats were inside.    A bear was also sighted up behind me recently so caution must prevail at the moment.  

I haven't been taking many pictures lately.   Don't know why really.   Too busy to think about it I guess.   Anyway, here's a few that I did take. 

November Day.

 Went to the city to visit the parents on Saturday, returning home on Tuesday.   I think I've been living in the country too long as the city doesn't hold anything for me anymore.   The hustle and bustle, the cars bumper to bumper, the noises.   One morning I was up before dawn, as usual, and went out on the front porch of my parents place.   They have the heating up so high and the house doesn't breath (like mine with all the drafts) so I have to go outside from time to time to gulp in fresh air.  They live in a retirement community with many cottages.  They can't have pets and they aren't allowed to feed the birds.   So, standing outside as dawn was starting to break,  I was aware of how quiet it was, not a light in any window, not a sound, or sign of a bird or anything else moving except for a sparse pine tree on the lawn next door that was bending lightly with the wind.    I had the over whelming feeling that I was in a dead zone.   I came back inside and was sitting thinking about this.   I came to the conclusion that if I had to live there I would die.  But then, the country and all the life around me that I love isn't for everyone either.   One of the few pictures I took was of a lone sea gull on a lamp post on a foggy day.

I had a lovely lunch at my brother and sister in laws on Monday.  This is their rescue dog Rocky.  A real sweetie.

I walked over to the stream on the property a couple of days ago.   The ground is completely covered with fallen leaves and the stream is trickling away.   So lovely there.

Two of the cats enjoying a lovely autumn day.

We've had a few frosty nights recently but also a few nice mild sunny days.   I shouldn't think that winter is far off.   I bought myself a pre lit Xmas tree.  The old one had finally started losing it's needles and had seen its day.  I haven't got the new one out of the box yet but I'm looking forward to getting it put up and dressed.  One problem might be young Tommy.   Hopefully he won't start hauling it apart like he did last year with the old one.

Well, that's about it for now.

A Tree Hugging Kind of Day.

Unusually warm temperatures for this time of year with high winds today.   I needed to climb the ladder to take down two of the feeders that were empty on one of the large Aspen trees.   I had forgotten how Aspens moved in a high wind so when I was up on the top rung of the ladder I felt the tree sway.  I'll admit that it made me chuckle as I've felt this before.   So, I wrapped my arms around the trunk and hugged my body to the tree and my self and the tree swayed back and forth in the wind.   What joy!

So many leaves on the ground the whole property is gold and orange with the odd bit of red thrown in. I've been trying to get things put to bed bit by bit.   For some reason my heart doesn't seem to be in it like other years.   Maybe because I've been busy preparing for the long cold winter to come.   Regardless, yesterday I got a bit done.

It's often said here that if the Rowan Trees, we call them Dogberry Trees, have lots of berries, it's going to be a hard winter.  Last year the trees were laden down with berries.   This year there doesn't seem to be many berries on the trees so according to the old people, it should be a mild winter.   Of course the weather people say that this is a pile of bull but I like to believe it. 

Quite a few Fox Sparrows around now.

And Juncos.

The silly squirrels are enjoying the food in the squirrel proof feeders.  They're so cute.

Well, time to get on with my day. 

Water Trouble.

Woke up yesterday morning to no water pressure.   A bit more than a dribble coming from the taps.  I waited until 9:00 am and then phoned the town council.   Stated the problem and was told that the men were on garbage detail today but word would be passed along and someone would get here eventually to have a look.    Phoned back at 1:00 pm and asked if a problem was found down by the road where the main water line was.  No, no one had a chance to get there yet.   Was asked if I looked around the property to see if there was an excess amount of water somewhere.   In that case it would be my responsibility to have it fixed.   Now, of course, I had dollar signs running around my head with the thought of bringing a backhoe in, etc., etc.   I looked around and found nothing.  After a while the men showed up hauling the garbage thingy behind the truck.  The guy, after looking at the situation, said they were on the way to the dump and would be back in about two hours and that it looked like the leak was by the turnoff.   They finally came back and found that the leak was under the road.  Now they have to try to find a flagman and get the equipment necessary to dig up the road.   This, hopefully, will happen tomorrow. 

I've been splitting wood this week.   My dad bought me a new log splitter as a surprise gift and it's wonderful.  It makes life a lot easier.

The beast.

 

Another lovely surprise....friends brought me some sweet and juicy plums from their tree.  Very tasty.

So, after eating so many of them, I made a Plum Crisp.

Fall has really set in now and with every breath of wind the leaves are falling.

Cats on a dull day.

And last but not least, a surprise visitor yesterday afternoon. 
Grouse.  On the table.